Anderson wins girls division for Lady Grizzlies

The Rocky Mountain Grizzlies got off to a strong start for the 2024-25 season last week, competing at the always tough Powell Invitational, which included top teams from both Wyoming and Montana.

Sophomore Charlee Anderson ran the table at the girls tournament in Cody at 235 pounds, wrestling to a 4-0 record with a 14-4 win over Juana Hines of Wind River, a 37-second pin against River Mangus of Lovell during pool wrestling Friday, followed by a 16-second pin against Mangus again and a pin in 2:14 against Hines again on Saturday.

Several members of the boys team recorded multiple wins on both the varsity and junior varsity level in Powell. Junior Jacoby Wachob wrestled to a 3-1 record at 150 pounds in the junior varsity division, beating Braxton Winfrey of Tongue River 8-5, Adam Finkel of Jackson 14-4 and Warren Smith of Huntley Project, Montana, by pin in 3:49.

Freshman Zach Unruh wrestled well at 144 pounds in the JV division, forging a 4-2 record with wins over Hector Martinez of Gillette on a 20-second pin, Ben Snyder of Wind River on a 32-second pin and, after a 15-8 loss to Morgan Jolliff of Huntley Project, pinned Jesse Brown of Greybull/Riverside in 2:33 and beat Neuce Passes of Hardin, 8-4. He then fell to Michael Hughes of Laurel by fall in 3:08.

The top performer in the varsity division was senior Curtis Wachob, wrestling at heavyweight. Wachob went 3-3 to place sixth with wins over Dalton McRae of Gillette (pin in 2:08), Hayden St. Clair of Lander (medical forfeit) and Roland Burton of Wyoming Indian (pin in 4:04).

Other varsity wrestlers competing were Sam Loyning, 0-3 at 132 pounds; Dalan Wambeke, 1-2 at 144 pounds; Colten Bitton, 1-3 at 144, Triffen Jolley, 1-4 at 165 pounds; and Masen Twomey, 1-2 at heavyweight.

Other junior varsity wrestlers competing were Austin Weller, 0-3 at 144 pounds; Ethan Haslem, 0-2 at 144; Paul Shetler, 1-1 at 165; William Torres, 0-2 at 215; and Alex Walker, 0-2 at heavyweight.

Other girls competing in Cody were Emmilee Wambeke at 130 pounds and Rebecca Herren at 135.

“We had some tough draws over in the Powell varsity side as well as the JV, but I’m still proud of our team for how well we fought,” head coach Eddie Whiting said. “We won’t be at these weights later in the year, so it’s a learning curve for all. Charlee Anderson won the girls heavyweight division. I am super pleased with her. She came into our program with some knowledge and showed lots of potential and growth.

“Curtis showed up both days ready to battle with some really good opponents. We have some work still to do, but he has come a long way since last year. Zach showed heart and grit over on the JV side. He wrestled well the first day but came fired up the second day, and that’s where it counts by who comes that second day ready and fired up. Coach (Hal) Moore helped with the junior varsity and said there was great competition there, as well.

“I was very pleased with how well we did as a team and how well our coaching staff adjusted to the changes during the tournament. We had me and assistant Travis Lytle, but also coach Moore stepped in to help us out, which was awesome.”

The Grizzlies will compete at the Battle in the Bighorns this weekend in Worland.